Article #405-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from Adventures and Letters of Richard Harding Davis, by Richard Harding Davis

But Richard was naturally gregarious and at heart had a great fondness
for clubs and social gatherings. Therefore, having refused the offer
of several fraternities that did him the honor to ask him to become a
member, it was necessary for him to form a few clubs that held
meetings, but no secrets. Perhaps the most successful of these were
"The Mustard and Cheese," a dramatic club devoted to the presentation
of farces and musical comedies, and The Arcadia Club, to the
fortnightly meetings of which he devoted much time and thought. The
following letter to his father will give some idea of the scope of the
club, which, as in the case of "The Mustard and Cheese," gained a
permanent and important place in the social life of Lehigh.

DEAR DAD:

We have started the best sort of a club up here which I am anxious to
tell you of. It consists of a spread, net price of which will be about
30 cents each, every two or three weeks. Only six fellows belong and
those the best of the College. Purnell, Haines and myself founded it.
I chose Charley, Purnell, Reeves, Haines and Howe. We will meet
Saturday nights at 9 so as not to interfere with our work, and sing,
read, eat and box until midnight. It is called the "Pipe and Bowl,"
and is meant to take the place that The Hasty Pudding, Hammer and Tongs
and Mermaid do at other colleges. Two of us are to invite two
outsiders in turn each meeting. We will hope to have Dad a member,
honorary, of course, when we can persuade him to give us a night off
with his company. We want to combine a literary feature and so will
have selected readings to provoke discussions after the pipes are lit.
The men are very enthusiastic about it and want to invite Mr. Allen and
you and every one that they can make an honorary member of immediately.

Explanation

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Adventures and Letters of Richard Harding Davis

This passage is taken from Adventures and Letters of Richard Harding Davis (1924), a posthumously published collection of writings and correspondence by the American journalist, war correspondent, and novelist Richard Harding Davis (1864–1916). The book compiles his personal letters, adventures, and reflections, offering insight into his personality, social life, and the cultural milieu of late 19th- and early 20th-century America.

The excerpt focuses on Davis’s time at Lehigh University (where he studied from 1882–1884 before transferring to Johns Hopkins) and his tendency to create social clubs as an alternative to traditional fraternities. The letter to his father reveals his enthusiasm for fostering intellectual and recreational camaraderie among a select group of peers.

Context & Background

Richard Harding Davis’s Personality & Social Tendencies
- Davis was known for his charismatic, sociable nature—he thrived in lively, intellectual, and artistic circles.
- Despite refusing formal fraternity memberships (possibly due to a desire for exclusivity or independence), he founded his own clubs to cultivate a more personalized social experience.
- This reflects a broader Gilded Age trend where elite young men formed exclusive literary, dramatic, and debating societies as markers of sophistication.
Lehigh University in the 1880s
- Lehigh, founded in 1865, was a technically oriented university (strong in engineering and science), but student life still included literary and dramatic societies.
- Clubs like "The Mustard and Cheese" (a dramatic society) and "The Arcadia Club" (likely a literary/debating group) were common in colleges of the era, serving as alternatives to Greek-life fraternities.
- The Hasty Pudding (Harvard), Hammer and Tongs (Yale), and Mermaid Club (NYC literary circle) were prestigious models for such groups, blending performance, literature, and conviviality.

Themes in the Excerpt

Exclusivity & Elite Camaraderie
- Davis’s clubs are highly selective—only "the best of the College" are invited.
- The "Pipe and Bowl" (a name evoking relaxation and intellectual discussion) is limited to six core members, with two guests per meeting, ensuring an intimate, high-quality gathering.
- This mirrors Gilded Age social hierarchies, where elite young men formed tight-knit circles to distinguish themselves.
Intellectual & Artistic Pursuits
- The club combines literary readings, discussions, music, and physical activity (boxing), reflecting a well-rounded ideal of masculinity (both cerebral and athletic).
- The "literary feature"—selected readings followed by debates—suggests an emulation of British literary clubs (e.g., Samuel Johnson’s The Club or the Bloomsbury Group).
- The theatrical element ("farces and musical comedies" in Mustard and Cheese) aligns with Davis’s later career as a dramatist and journalist.
Rebellion Against Convention
- Davis rejects fraternities but still craves structured social interaction, so he creates his own institutions.
- The clubs have "no secrets"—unlike fraternities with their rituals and exclusivity, Davis’s groups are transparently meritocratic.
- This may reflect a youthful desire for autonomy while still seeking validation from peers and mentors (e.g., inviting his father and professors as honorary members).
Nostalgia & Legacy-Building
- Davis frames the "Pipe and Bowl" as something that will endure in Lehigh’s social life, much like the Hasty Pudding at Harvard.
- His letter to his father is both a boast (showing his social success) and an invitation to participate, suggesting he values his father’s approval and wants to bridge generational gaps.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

Epistolary Form (Letter Writing)
- The informal, enthusiastic tone ("the best sort of a club," "I am anxious to tell you") makes the description personal and immediate.
- The direct address ("Dear Dad") creates intimacy, while the detailed planning ("meet Saturday nights at 9," "net price of 30 cents") gives a sense of youthful earnestness.
Juxtaposition of High and Low Culture
- The club mixes "sing, read, eat and box"—blending intellectual pursuits (readings, discussions) with physical and leisurely ones (boxing, eating, music).
- The 30-cent "spread" (a modest budget) contrasts with the lofty ambitions of emulating Harvard’s Hasty Pudding, showing a playful yet aspirational attitude.
Allusion & Intertextuality
- References to Hasty Pudding (Harvard), Hammer and Tongs (Yale), and the Mermaid Club (NYC) position Lehigh’s club within a tradition of elite literary societies.
- The name "Pipe and Bowl" evokes smoking (a symbol of relaxation and intellectual exchange) and possibly classical or pastoral imagery (the "Arcadia" club name also suggests an idyllic, artistic retreat).
Humorous Understatement
- The casual mention of boxing until midnight alongside singing and reading adds a lighthearted, almost absurd touch, reinforcing the youthful energy of the group.
- The 30-cent budget is presented as if it’s a grand affair, highlighting the collegiate spirit of making do with limited resources.

Significance of the Passage

Insight into Davis’s Character
- The excerpt reveals Davis as a natural leader, organizer, and social architect—traits that would later define his career as a war correspondent and man-about-town.
- His desire for structured yet flexible social circles foreshadows his later role in New York’s literary and theatrical scenes.
Reflection of Gilded Age College Culture
- The passage captures the social dynamics of elite universities in the late 19th century, where clubs and societies were crucial for networking and intellectual development.
- The blending of literature, performance, and athletics reflects the ideal of the "gentleman-scholar"—a man who was both cultured and physically robust.
Precursor to Modern Campus Life
- Davis’s DIY approach to club-forming anticipates later student-led organizations that define college social life today.
- The "no secrets" policy contrasts with the mystique of fraternities, suggesting an early alternative model for student communities.
Literary & Historical Value
- As a primary source, the letter provides a firsthand look at collegiate social structures in the 1880s.
- It also humanizes Davis, showing him not just as a famous journalist but as a young man eager to impress his father and build lasting friendships.

Conclusion: Why This Matters

This excerpt is more than just a college anecdote—it’s a microcosm of Davis’s personality, the Gilded Age’s social rituals, and the evolution of American campus culture. His enthusiasm for creating exclusive yet open-minded clubs reflects a broader tension between tradition and individualism in late 19th-century America.

The "Pipe and Bowl" letter, in particular, is charming in its youthful ambition, blending humor, intellectual aspiration, and a touch of elitism. It shows how social spaces—even small, self-made ones—can shape identities, foster creativity, and leave a lasting legacy, much like Davis himself did in his later career.

Would you like any further analysis on specific aspects, such as the historical context of college clubs or Davis’s later life?

Questions

Question 1

The passage suggests that Richard Harding Davis’s decision to form his own clubs rather than join existing fraternities is best understood as:

A. a rejection of institutional hierarchies in favor of anarchic, unstructured social interaction.
B. an attempt to replicate the exclusivity of fraternities while avoiding their ritualistic secrecy.
C. a paradoxical blend of elitism and meritocratic transparency, where selectivity coexists with openness to discussion.
D. a youthful rebellion against paternal authority, evidenced by his refusal to invite his father until the club was established.
E. a pragmatic response to financial constraints, as his clubs required minimal dues compared to fraternity membership fees.

Question 2

The name "Pipe and Bowl" functions most significantly in the passage as:

A. an ironic contrast to the club’s actual lack of intellectual rigor, given its inclusion of physical activities like boxing.
B. a nostalgic reference to British literary salons, signaling Davis’s aspiration to transplant European traditions to America.
C. a symbolic invocation of conviviality and contemplation, aligning the club with both leisure and cerebral engagement.
D. a deliberate rejection of the theatrical connotations of "The Mustard and Cheese," marking a shift toward serious debate.
E. a coded signal to potential honorary members that the club’s discussions would focus on tobacco culture and economics.

Question 3

The passage’s description of the club’s activities—"sing, read, eat and box until midnight"—is primarily structured to:

A. underscore the members’ lack of discipline, as their schedule conflicts with academic priorities.
B. highlight the superficiality of their intellectual pursuits, which are diluted by frivolous entertainment.
C. contrast the club’s egalitarian ethos with the rigid formality of established fraternities.
D. evoke a sense of controlled chaos, where disparate activities coalesce into a cohesive, if eclectic, social ritual.
E. satirize the pretensions of collegiate literary societies by juxtaposing high culture with base physicality.

Question 4

The letter’s tone when describing the "Pipe and Bowl" is best characterized as:

A. self-deprecating, as Davis undermines his own enthusiasm by acknowledging the club’s modest budget.
B. deferential, as he frames the club’s success as contingent on his father’s approval and participation.
C. exuberantly persuasive, blending pride in his creation with a calculated appeal to his father’s sense of legacy.
D. resigned, as he concedes that the club will likely fail to achieve the permanence of its Ivy League counterparts.
E. didactic, as he instructs his father on the proper etiquette for honorary membership in collegiate societies.

Question 5

The passage implies that the "literary feature" of the club serves which of the following functions in the broader context of Davis’s social vision?

A. A performative gesture to legitimize the club’s intellectual pretensions, despite its primary focus on recreation.
B. A mechanism to exclude less articulate members, ensuring the club remains dominated by the most eloquent.
C. An homage to the Mermaid Club, intended to signal Davis’s alignment with New York’s literary elite.
D. A deliberate structuring device to balance spontaneity with curated discourse, fostering both camaraderie and debate.
E. A concession to academic expectations, inserted to justify the club’s existence to university administrators.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: C

Why C is most correct: The passage depicts Davis’s clubs as highly selective ("only six fellows belong and those the best of the College") yet transparently meritocratic ("no secrets") and open to discussion ("selected readings to provoke discussions"). This creates a paradoxical blend of elitism (exclusivity) and transparency (open debate), where membership is restricted but the intellectual exchange is collaborative. Option C captures this tension most precisely.